AOC vows to keep government shut down until Trump signs healthcare subsidies plan

Rep. Alexandria-Ocasio Cortez (D-NY) said she would only vote to reopen the government if President Donald Trump signed an extension of Obamacare subsidies. She also refused to give credit to Trump over a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war earlier this week while she appeared for a town hall event on CNN with democratic socialist Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT). She claimed that Trump has been an "obstacle" to peace.

Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez both agreed that they will not vote to fund the government until the GOP agrees to extend healthcare subsidies from the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that are set to expire this year. The Congresswoman said she needs to see it "pass on the floor of the House, and the Senate, and signed by President Trump."

The question directed at the congresswoman comes as the Senate Democrats have now voted eight times against a continuing resolution (CR) package that would open the government back up from a shutdown with funding at current levels.

The Democrats have insisted on proposing their own CR with add-ins, including the reversal of a provision in the "One Big Beautiful Bill" that was signed by Trump in the summer. The removal of the provision would allow more federal government funding to cover the medical expenses of illegal immigrants in the US.

Ocasio-Cortez also was asked by CNN's Kaitlan Collins if Trump deserves credit for getting a ceasefire in Gaza, and the congresswoman responded, "Well, you know, I find these, there have been several ceasefire announcements and developments that have happened over the past two years. I think that the release of the hostages is a tremendous accomplishment, and it is providing so much healing to so many people, Israelis and Palestinians, and it is a profound and important moment in this conflict. I also think that as President Trump was on the plane back to the United States, there's already indications and questions about whether this ceasefire will hold."

"I pray that it does, but I do believe we need to see if it holds. I don't believe that there's been a history of fidelity to these agreements, and so I think we have to ensure that we will see the terms held to," she added.

Collins then asked about giving Trump credit for the release of the hostages, which Ocasio-Cortez did concede, but then added, "In this particular development? Yes, but we also know that President Trump was an obstacle to peace previously as well."

During the town hall, Ocasio-Cortez was also asked if Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer should be worried about a primary run from the "squad" congresswoman. Her response did not appear conclusive one way or the other.

"I'm- no- I don't think this is about anything- This is what we're talking about!" she said, as Sanders interjected, carrying the conversation away from the topic with talking points about "oligarchs" running the country.

"Nobody cares," Sanders said, focusing on economic issues facing Americans. "Let’s talk about that issue, not her own political future. She’ll decide that.